Abstract
The Jinbaoshan serpentine complex is characterized by low grades Cu, Ni and platinum group metals (PGM), and little is known about the relative abundance of the valuable minerals and gangue. With the aid of modern testing instruments, such as a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), the occurrence and distribution of Cu, Ni and platinum group minerals (PGMs) were investigated in detail. Results show that eighteen categories of PGMs are found in the ore, mainly occurring as individual minerals; the PGMs are mainly disseminated in the sulfide in inclusions or semi-inclusions; some are inlaid along with other minerals to form a coarse assemblage. The base metal sulfides (BMS), such as pyrrhotite, pentlandite and chalcopyrite, are regarded as the “carrier” of PGMs, and serpentine is the major gangue, which has negative impact on mineral processing and extractive metallurgy.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chai, G., and Naldrett, A.J., 1992a, “The Jinchuan ultramafic intrusion: cumulate of a high-Mg basaltic magma,” Journal of Petrology, Vol. 33, pp. 277–303.
Chai, G., and Naldrett, A.J., 1992b, “Characteristics of Ni-Cu-PGE mineralisation and genesis of the Jinchuan deposit, Northwest China,” Economic Geology, Vol. 87, pp. 1475–1495.
Cabri, L.J., Beattie, M., Rudashevsky, N.S., and Rudashevsky, V.N., 2005a, “Process mineralogy of Au, Pd and Pt ores from the Skaergaard intrusion, Greenland, using new technology,” Minerals Engineering, Vol. 18, pp.887–897.
Cabri, L.J., McDonald, A.M., Stanley, C.J., Rudashevsky, N.S., Poirier, G., Durham, B.R., Mungall, J.E., and Rudashevsky, V.N., 2005b, “Naldrettite, Pd2Sb, a new intermetallic mineral from the Mesamax Northwest deposit, Ungava region, Quebec, Canada,” Mineralogical Magazine, Vol. 69, 89–97.
Freeman, C., 2003, “Mineral beneficiation of the platinum group elements: A view through the hand-lens,” Engineering and Mining Journal, Vol. 3, pp. 241–245.
Gauert, C.D.K., de Waal, S.A., and Wallmach, T., 1995, “Geology of the ultrabasic to basic Uitkomst Complex, eastern Transvaal, South Africa: an overview,” Journal of African Earth Science, Vol. 21, pp. 553–570.
Li, C., and Naldrett, A.J., 1999, “Geology and petrology of the Voisey’s Bay intrusion: reaction of olivine with sulfide and silicate liquids,” Lithos, Vol. 47, pp. 1–31.
Naldrett, A.J. Fedorenko, V.A., Lightfoot, P.C., Kunilov, V.I., Gorbachev, N.S. Doherty, W. and Johan, Z., 1995, “Ni-Cu-PGE deposits of the Noril’sk region, Siberia: their formation in conduits for flood basalt volcanism,” Transactions of Institute Mining and Metallurgy, Vol. 104B, pp. 1–86.
Wang, C.Y., Mei-Fu Zhou, Liang Qi, 2010, “Origin of extremely PGE-rich mafic magma system: An example from the Jinbaoshan ultramafic sill, Emeishan large igneous province, SW China,” Lithos, Vol. 119, pp. 147–161.
Yoon, H., Yoon, C., Park, C.S., Ko, T., Kim, N.S., and Han, K.N., 2005, “Quantitative determination of PGM using ICP-MS, ICP-AES, AAS and XRF,” Minerals & Metallurgical Processing, Vol. 22, pp.59–64.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Paper number MMP-12-009.
Discussion of this peer-reviewed and approved paper is invited and must be submitted to SME Publications Dept. prior to February 28, 2013.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Liu, S., Tong, X., Song, B. et al. Mineralogy study on a low-grade Cu-Ni-PGM sulfide ore in Jinbaoshan, China. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 29, 172–176 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03402257
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03402257